For millions of Indian students, IIT-JEE and NEET are seen as the ultimate gateways to a successful career. Every year, students spend months – or even years – preparing for these highly competitive entrance exams. However, with limited seats and millions of aspirants, many are left searching for alternative career options after the results.

In 2025, more than 1.2 million students appeared for JEE Main, while nearly 2.3 million registered for NEET-UG, making competition tougher than ever. At the same time, the global job market is witnessing a growing demand for skilled professionals, with employers increasingly prioritising practical skills, industry exposure and globally recognised qualifications over the reputation of an institution.

According to the World Economic Forum, nearly 170 million new jobs are expected to be created globally by 2030, while the OECD has highlighted labour shortages as a major challenge across developed economies. This has opened new opportunities for Indian students in sectors that are facing significant talent gaps worldwide.

Here are three career pathways that can help students build international careers beyond IIT-JEE and NEET.

Nursing: Rising global demand for healthcare professionals

The healthcare sector is facing an acute shortage of skilled workers across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nurses make up nearly 30% of the global healthcare workforce, yet the world could face a shortage of almost 6 million nurses by 2030.

India has emerged as one of the leading suppliers of trained nursing professionals, creating opportunities for graduates seeking careers in countries such as the UK, Germany and the Middle East.

To address this demand, institutions are increasingly focusing on practical learning alongside classroom education. One example is Emversity, which partners with universities to integrate industry immersion into nursing programmes through advanced simulation labs equipped with VR-based training, clinical manikins and over 2,000 hospital-based scenarios. The programmes also include industry-recognised certifications developed in collaboration with healthcare organisations such as CAHO and Motherhood, helping students prepare for international healthcare standards.

Banking and Financial Services: Growing global career opportunities

India is rapidly strengthening its position as a global hub for banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI). International banks, fintech firms and financial institutions are increasingly operating technology, compliance, analytics and risk management functions from India.

Industry estimates suggest that BFSI Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India could reach a market size of $125–135 billion by 2032. Currently, around 60–70% of technology and operations teams of several global banks are already based in the country.

As demand for globally skilled finance professionals grows, educational institutions are introducing programmes with international exposure. One such option is the Global B.Com programme offered by the Jindal School of Banking and Finance in collaboration with Deakin University, allowing students to study in both India and Australia while gaining international academic and industry experience.

Hospitality: A sector with global mobility

Hospitality remains one of the world’s most internationally connected industries, offering career opportunities across multiple countries. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the travel and tourism industry contributed US$11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025, accounting for 9.8% of the global economy, while supporting around 366 million jobs worldwide—roughly one in every nine jobs globally.

As hotels and tourism businesses expand, employers are increasingly looking for candidates with hands-on operational experience and international exposure.

Responding to this demand, through its partner university network, Emversity offers an International Diploma in Hotel Management, designed with industry immersion in collaboration with Prism Hotels. The programme includes practical operational training and paid international internships in destinations including the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. It also covers accommodation, meals, visa processing and one-way airfare for eligible students.

While IIT-JEE and NEET continue to be important pathways for engineering and medical aspirants, they are no longer the only routes to building a successful career.